Lucas 3:16

16 respondió Juan, diciendo a todos: Yo, a la verdad, os bautizo en agua; mas viene quien es más poderoso que yo, de quien no soy digno de desatar la correa de sus zapatos; él os bautizará en Espíritu Santo y fuego

Lucas 3:16 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 3:16

John answered, saying unto them all
For some of them might not only so think in their hearts, but express with their mouths the apprehension they had of him; and might put the question to him, as the priests and Levites from Jerusalem afterwards did; or he might know the secret thoughts of their hearts by divine revelation; or be apprized by his disciples of the private sentiments of the people concerning him: and therefore, to put them out of doubt, and that he might not have an honour conferred on him, which did not belong to him, he addressed himself, in a very public manner, to the whole multitude, in the hearing of them all: though the word "all" is left out in the Syriac and Persic versions, but rightly retained in others, being in all copies, and having a considerable emphasis on it: and said the following words.

I indeed baptize you with water;
Matthew adds "unto repentance"; upon the profession of repentance:

but one mightier than I cometh;
that is, after me;
as Matthew records it:

the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose;
neither to bear his shoes after him, as Matthew says, nor to untie his shoe string, or unbuckle his shoe, both which were menial actions with the Jews: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire; as he did some of their nation, his own disciples, on the day of pentecost; (See Gill on Matthew 3:11)

Lucas 3:16 In-Context

14 Y le preguntaron también los soldados, diciendo: Y nosotros, ¿qué haremos? Y les dijo: No oprimáis, ni acuseis falsamente a nadie; y estad contentos con vuestros salarios

15 Y estando el pueblo esperando, y pensando todos de Juan en sus corazones, si él sería el Cristo

16 respondió Juan, diciendo a todos: Yo, a la verdad, os bautizo en agua; mas viene quien es más poderoso que yo, de quien no soy digno de desatar la correa de sus zapatos; él os bautizará en Espíritu Santo y fuego

17 su aventador está en su mano, y limpiará su era, y juntará el trigo en su alfolí, y la paja quemará en fuego que nunca se apagará

18 Y amonestando, muchas otras cosas anunciaba el Evangelio al pueblo